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Feeling gas pain at the pumps
by Outspoken on Fri May 23, 2008 4:04 am
Feeling gas pain at the pumps, Mainers are finding ways to cut back on driving
By JOHN RICHARDSON
Blethen Maine Newspapers
Maine gasoline sales are declining at the fastest rate in more than 15 years as pump prices continue to rise toward $4 a gallon and residents look for ways to cut back, state figures show.
The average price for a gallon of gas rose to $3.89 in Maine on Thursday, up 3.3 cents from the day before and 9 cents in the past week. Such statistics, combined with the observations of bus operators, auto mechanics, car dealers and others, indicated that Mainers are beginning to adapt.
“What we’ve seen lately is the rising cost of fuel is having a big impact on people’s behavior,” said Jerry Stanhope, an analyst with the research division of Maine Revenue Service. After years of steady but slow increases in gasoline usage, he said, sales are now falling at a steady clip. “It’s accelerating in the last few months,” Stanhope said.
So far, gasoline sales during the current fiscal year are down 3.6 percent from last year. If the trend holds for May and June, it will be the steepest annual decline in at least two decades, according to the data. The state tracks gasoline sales because the tax on gas is a major source of funding for maintaining highways.
The decline in gas tax revenue, combined with declines in other revenue because of the economy and inflation, is being watched closely, although the impacts won’t be known for several months, Stanhope said. “We’ll see how this goes,” he said.
For motorists, the more immediate issue is how to stay away from the pump.
“It’s tough on everybody,” said Katie Cripps of South Portland as she filled the tank of her Hyundai Elantra Thursday with $3.95-a-gallon gas. “I’m glad I didn’t get an SUV.” Cripps said she’s getting her old bicycle road-worthy again and, in the meantime, trying to drive less.
Plenty of other Mainers are watching their mileage, too.
April ridership on the Biddeford to Portland Zoom bus was up 93 percent from a year ago, said Ed Clifford, executive director of the Shuttlebus/Zoom service.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “I had to double check the figures.” With a monthly pass costing $58, a one-way ride can cost just $1.45, less than a third of what tolls and gas would cost for a typical commuter at today’s pump prices.
“It’s amazing how many more people are starting to take it just since I started,” said Debbi Libby of Shapleigh. Libby started riding the Zoom bus from Biddeford to Portland in January after 11 years of driving the 80-mile round trip commute. She’s cut her gasoline usage in half and, most important, figures she saves $60 or more a week. “I’m just trying to spend less money on gas,” she said.
Many Mainers are car pooling to work or joining van pools coordinated by Go Maine.
“Requests are coming in from all over the place,” said Carey Kish, director of the state-sponsored commuter connections program.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/2015272361.html
Photos by Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
By JOHN RICHARDSON
Blethen Maine Newspapers
Maine gasoline sales are declining at the fastest rate in more than 15 years as pump prices continue to rise toward $4 a gallon and residents look for ways to cut back, state figures show.
The average price for a gallon of gas rose to $3.89 in Maine on Thursday, up 3.3 cents from the day before and 9 cents in the past week. Such statistics, combined with the observations of bus operators, auto mechanics, car dealers and others, indicated that Mainers are beginning to adapt.
“What we’ve seen lately is the rising cost of fuel is having a big impact on people’s behavior,” said Jerry Stanhope, an analyst with the research division of Maine Revenue Service. After years of steady but slow increases in gasoline usage, he said, sales are now falling at a steady clip. “It’s accelerating in the last few months,” Stanhope said.
So far, gasoline sales during the current fiscal year are down 3.6 percent from last year. If the trend holds for May and June, it will be the steepest annual decline in at least two decades, according to the data. The state tracks gasoline sales because the tax on gas is a major source of funding for maintaining highways.
The decline in gas tax revenue, combined with declines in other revenue because of the economy and inflation, is being watched closely, although the impacts won’t be known for several months, Stanhope said. “We’ll see how this goes,” he said.
For motorists, the more immediate issue is how to stay away from the pump.
“It’s tough on everybody,” said Katie Cripps of South Portland as she filled the tank of her Hyundai Elantra Thursday with $3.95-a-gallon gas. “I’m glad I didn’t get an SUV.” Cripps said she’s getting her old bicycle road-worthy again and, in the meantime, trying to drive less.
Plenty of other Mainers are watching their mileage, too.
April ridership on the Biddeford to Portland Zoom bus was up 93 percent from a year ago, said Ed Clifford, executive director of the Shuttlebus/Zoom service.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “I had to double check the figures.” With a monthly pass costing $58, a one-way ride can cost just $1.45, less than a third of what tolls and gas would cost for a typical commuter at today’s pump prices.
“It’s amazing how many more people are starting to take it just since I started,” said Debbi Libby of Shapleigh. Libby started riding the Zoom bus from Biddeford to Portland in January after 11 years of driving the 80-mile round trip commute. She’s cut her gasoline usage in half and, most important, figures she saves $60 or more a week. “I’m just trying to spend less money on gas,” she said.
Many Mainers are car pooling to work or joining van pools coordinated by Go Maine.
“Requests are coming in from all over the place,” said Carey Kish, director of the state-sponsored commuter connections program.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/2015272361.html
Photos by Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
